Commercial Biogenetic Technology, barely 10 years old, is
approaching a billion dollar year in annual sales for pharmaceuticals
and medications to improve human health. Laboratory grown human insulin for diabetics is replacing a similar agent from cows and pigs. Tissue
Plasminogen Activator (TPA) is saving thousands of lives in cases of
sudden heart attacks. Anemia and Aids Sufferers are relieved by newer
gene spliced F.D.A. approved products.

Agricultural Biogenetic materials are much slower in arriving, but
has a market potential 100 times greater than these and other curative
pharmaceutical agents. Potentially, it has wide application for both tea
and coffee crops. Over the horizon, lie immense possibilities for
greater flavor content in both, increased yield, lower production costs
and specialty products. Caffeine-free growths eliminating necessity for
solvent extraction, could provide decaffeinated varieties at about the
same price as regular products. Development of insect and fungus
resistant specie could exclude the need for toxic pesticides. This is a
discussion of some of the current developments by companies in other
agricultural areas, and how this discipline could apply to coffee and
tea crops.

Technical progress in agricultural biotechnology has been much
speedier than commercial applications. In 1981, leading companies in
this field did not have the technique for performing gene transfers in
plants. Today it has been accomplished in a variety of vegetation
including vegetable crops, tobacco, potatoes, cotton, etc. Intensive
work is being performed to introduce new genes, reliably, into major
grain crops like corn and wheat and should be successful during the next
decade.

Substantial progress has been made in these areas, but payoff has
been much slower than anticipated. Promising areas that are extensively
pursued include:

1. Genetically altered seeds, producing crops that would resist
herbicides, disease, fungi and insects. Products like these would
probably be the first applications approved by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and E.P.A. Herbacide resistance would allow weed killers to
be sprayed liberally on the soil without harming the desired crop. This
could be valuable for both tea and coffee. Already petunia genes have
been engineered into tomato seeds, soybeans, cotton seeds and canola
(rape seeds) so that a broad spectrum herbicide can be liberally sprayed
on these fields, thus yielding a larger crop at lower costs.

2. Biopesticides based on genetically modified microorganisms.
These would kill insects and harmful microbes and have broad potential
for all plantations.

3. Better tasting and more nutritious vegetables are close to
commercialization. Calgene Corporation, for example, is developing a
tomato that will not soften readily. This permits them to ripen on the
vine, producing a more natural flavor. DNA Plant Technology Company,
using cell culture, has developed Vegisnax--crisper carrots and celery
which will soon be marketed in snack size packages.

4. A gene altered hormone, practically identical with the one
naturally present in milk, may soon be approved. It increases milk
production 10 to 25 percent. Some dairymen object on economic grounds,
maintaining too much milk would lower prices.

5. Crops Genetics, Inc. has received permission from EPA and the
Dept. of Agriculture for field trials of genetically engineered vaccine
for corn.

6. Escagen Company has developed procedures for transplanting and
recovering vanilla flavoring from plants. Other natural flavors are also
possible.

For coffee, one initial field for pursuit might be the
identification of the aroma precursor gene or genes present in Arabica but largely absent in the Robusta variety. Once identified, it could be
incorporated into the African product. This would increase the value of
this crop and offer roasters a valuable addition to blends.

Another possibility would be to isolate the gene controlling
percentage of solubles. This gene is present to a greater extent in
Africans than in Milds of Brazilians. Transplanting this gene to Arabica
varieties could increase yields in instant coffees.

Emphasizing this gene in Robustas could conceivably increase yields
in all varieties and enhance economics of soluble production.

Identification of the caffeine producing gene, in addition to
growing caffeine-free coffee, could lead to cultivation of a double
strength caffeine crop. Combined with greater aroma genes, this could
lead to a highly satisfactory beverage at 100 cups per pound with equal
stimulation and flavor as the present 50 cups per pound.

All types of specialty coffees could become possible with gene
splicing. New flavors present unlimited potential. Nutritious coffees
could be grown with established vitamin content. Specialty coffees could
come from new blends.

Some or all of these develpments will undoubtedly arive during the
next century. Biogenetic technology is too large and expensive a
discipline to be pursued by the individual grower. Governmental
agricultural department, universities and commercial companies should be
encouraged to devote more attention to the needs of this industry.

COPYRIGHT 1989 Lockwood Trade Journal Co., Inc.
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